A Maryland Stalking or Harassment Conviction Jeopardizes Your Career. A Professional and Tested Defense Attorney Can Help You Successfully Confront the Charge.
While neither stalking nor harassment is a felony, both are serious offenses that carry potential jail sentences. Any criminal conviction can have devastating economic consequences. Certain convictions carry a stigma that may be impossible to overcome.
How is Stalking Defined?
Maryland law defines stalking as repeatedly pursuing or approaching another person with the intention of putting that person in reasonable fear of:
- Serious bodily injury
- Any form of assault
- Any type of sexual offense
- Kidnapping or false imprisonment
- Death
What constitutes doing something repeatedly is open to debate. It means at least more than once. The law requires a course of conduct to sustain a conviction. That course of conduct must be a demonstrated malicious pattern. One can’t accidentally stalk someone. There are specific exceptions for legitimate business activity, or behavior, [where someone may come in contact with another] necessary to carry out a court’s lawful order. Stalking is a misdemeanor offense that is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and a prison sentence of up to 5 years.
How is Harassment Defined?
The law defines harassment as following another individual in or around a public place or maliciously engaging in repeated behavior that seriously annoys or alarms another individual. There must be an intent to annoy, alarm, or harass, and the person has to continue his or her actions after being asked to stop. Harassment is a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of up to $500 and a jail sentence of up to 90 days.
The facts that form a harassment and stalking prosecution are often highly subjective. Frequently, the participants in these prosecutions are former paramours. I have handled hundreds of criminal prosecutions through the years, and I will tell you, if you are facing time behind bars, it is essential that you consult with a seasoned criminal defense attorney. Call me today for a complimentary discussion of your case and analysis of your defenses.
R.S. Baltimore, MD,
